Bookies make hosts Australia Ashes favourites | Sport

08 Nov 2017

England win Ashes series (File)

Cape Town - Hosts Australia have been installed as favourites for their upcoming Ashes series against England.

Despite England holding the prized urn, leading SA bookmakers BET.co.za have Steve Smith's men as 7/10 favourites.

England, who reclaimed the Ashes 3-2 the last time the sides did battle in 2015, are on offer at 9/4, while a drawn five-Test series can be backed at 39/10.

Joe Root's England side have had a torrid build-up with star all-rounder Ben Stokes' participation still in doubt, while on Tuesday they were forced to call up uncapped Tom Curran in place of the injured Steven Finn.

The Ashes gets underway on Thursday, November 23 in Brisbane, followed by Tests in Adelaide, Perth, the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year's Test in Sydney.

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